BBC Television's live production of George Orwell's "1984"


This movie is part of the collection: Classic TV

Audio/Visual: sound, B&W
Language: English
Keywords: Classic TV, BBC, 1984

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: human - - December 30, 2012
Subject: Simply brilliant
As others have pointed out, this telefilm is very faithful to Orwell's text. Cushing's performance is simply brilliant. If you haven't watched this yet, do so NOW!

Reviewer: garthus1 - - February 16, 2012
Subject: Great film for today...sad to say
This is the best version of this film. Good work putting this up.

Gerry

Reviewer: SQuiRMiN' VeRMiN' - - July 29, 2011
Subject: OUT OF THE BLUE #6 PETER CUSHING ! !
This maybe the BEST filmed version of '1984'?
With 'PETER CUSHING'!! and 'DONALD PLEASEANCE'
(Does anyone think this film had anything to do with 'DONALD' ending up in "THX 1138" ?) NAHH!!

FOR WHAT IT' WORTH: QUITE BY CHANCE,
I FOUND AND WATCHED IT ON THE '4th of JULY' . . .

CAREFUL: THIS FILM IS HARD HITTING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING

Reviewer: Vic Demise - - May 7, 2011
Subject: Best Version I've Ever Seen!
Despite the less than pristine sound- still accepable- this version seems to me to have a better sense of the narrative than some later, more expensive, less moving versions.
Downright creepy at times.
A must for any thinking person.

Reviewer: KZ-6090 - - January 3, 2011
Subject: 1956 film, 1984
This was of course a faithful version of the text and for TV at that time very daring. There is also another film shot in 1956 with Edmond O'Brian as Smith, which is the first one I saw much later on TV in the States. I don't believe it is public domain, but anyone who saw the 1954 version would truly enjoy this "lost" gem.

Reviewer: messiah001 - - June 8, 2010
Subject: **SPOILER ALERT - Read before next review**
If you havent read the book, dont read the next review. I half read the book and now know what happens.

Reviewer: dudeman5685 - - April 18, 2010
Subject: Best version
I've seen the 1956 and 1984 versions online, and I must say this is the best version available, both in terms of watch-ability and faithfulness to the text.

The last third isn't for everyone though, its about the main character Winston Smith, getting tortured. Its probably more effective because Smith isn't actually shown, like in the 80s version, so its like O'Brien is torturing you, the viewer. Smith doesn't we what happened to him until he sees his emaciated figure in a mirror. Cushing pulls this off perfectly.

Reviewer: vidmonko - - February 13, 2009
Subject: We're Living This Today.
Orwell was very prophetic. Listen to E. Michael Jones' podcasts here at archive for some evidence. Also Israel Shamir's books here.

Reviewer: jazzfan - - February 9, 2009
Subject: Must See TV
Pretty powerful stuff for 1954 television. Was this ever broadcast in the USA?

Reviewer: endofthefork - - February 9, 2009
Subject: Very Good Stuff
An excellent production of Orwell's classic novel, adapted for the screen by the peerless Nigel Kneale, famous for the 'Quatermass' serials and films, various BBC dramas such as 'The Creature', 'The Road' and 'The Year of the Sex Olympics', plus the frankly terrifing 'The Stone Tape', and more. It features Peter Cushing (who also starred in Kneale's TV play 'The Creature', and it's Hammer film version) in an excellent piece of casting as the protaganist Winston Smith. Also featured is Andre Morell, later of 1958's 'Quatermass & The Pit'. Kneale can be heard as an announcer on the telescreen.
This is a first rate production. So little of this periods drama has survived it is a pleasure to watch this. It is worth your time. Video and sound quality are first rate. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Reviewer: Jeice_The_Cuddly_Warrior - - January 11, 2009
Subject: Great
This is high quality TV for high quality creatures.

I give it the Ginyu Force Seal of Approval.